Journal of Soviet Ambassador Puzanov, Memorandum of Conversation with N.M. Taraki and Delegation of the Soviet Academy of Sciences

From the journal of A.M. Puzanov

Record of Conversation with the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Prime Minister of the

Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Nur Muhammad Taraki

July 11, 1978

I visited N.M. Taraki and introduced him to the delegation from the USSR Academy of Sciences, headed by the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR, Cde. M.S. Asimov.

M.S. Asimov conveyed to N.M. Taraki cordial greetings and best wishes from the leadership of the USSR Academy of Sciences, as well as from the leadership of Tajikistan. He expressed his hope for broad scientific relations between the USSR Academy of Sciences and the forming Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan, for an exchange of delegations and various joint research projects by Soviet and Afghan scientists.

M.S. Asimov said that the purpose of the delegation is to find out more about the scientific work being done in Afghanistan and discuss the ways, forms and methods of cooperation between Soviet and Afghan scientific organizations and to conduct discussions about these questions with the Afghan side.

N.M. Taraki thanked him and said that the April 27 Revolution created favorable conditions for the development of science on a new and progressive basis, and in this regard the prospect of scientific cooperation with the Soviet Union is very promising. Afghan scientists now have the opportunity to use the advanced experience of Soviet scientists. Undoubtedly, the joint research and collaboration will enrich both sides and make scientific cooperation more fruitful.

N.M. Taraki then went on to say that the revolution triumphed in Afghanistan and is developing with the help of the Soviet Union, the CPSU, and the Soviet government. Being neighbors with the USSR, the DRA wants to be a natural participant in the life of the socialist community and a member of that community. The April 27th Revolution took place in 10 hours, which may seem miraculous to some people. However, it was preceded by 35 years of struggle, hard and intense work by the progressive forces in the country, which since 1965 have been headed by the PDPA. The Afghan people were powerless and humiliated in the past, but now they have the opportunity to build a new and happy life. We have high hopes for the comprehensive assistance of our Soviet friends, who are already helping the revolutionary power a great deal and successfully.

The Soviet ambassador noted that last year, in a conversation with professor N.A. Dvoryankov, who was then visiting Kabul and now was a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences delegation, he expressed his hope for broad and unimpeded Soviet-Afghan cooperation in all fields. Now this time has come, and both the Soviet and the Afghan sides are happily making every effort to ensure that such cooperation develops and expands, and produces tangible results.

N.M. Taraki said that the PDPA and the leadership of the DRA are using the wealth of experience of the Soviet Union and their support to make the dreams of the Afghan people come true; to develop realistic plans and implement them in practice. The country faces a lot of difficulties, but we are confident that we can overcome them successfully, N.M. Taraki said.

At the end of the conversation, he wished success for the work of the delegation from the USSR Academy of Sciences.

The conversation was translated and recorded by the Second Secretary of the Soviet embassy, D.B. Ryurikov.

USSR Ambassador in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan,

A. Puzanov

[Signed]